Christian weiss



C. WEISS, Jr. HARMONICA.

. Patented Nov. 2, 1897'.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN WEISS, JR., OF TROSSINGEN, GERMANY.

HARMONICA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,850, dated November2, 1897.

Application led April 30,1896.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN WEISS, J r., manufacturer, of Trossingen,Kingdom of NViirtemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Harmonicas, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to harmonicas in which the reeds are covered bycaps whereby the sound is increased in such a degree that it resemblesthat of a trumpet. The arrangement is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure I shows a front View; Fig. 2, a crosssection;Fig. 3, a view from above; Fig. 4, a detail. Fig. 5 is the-front view ofa modification, and Fig. 6 a sectional plan of the sounding-caps.

In order to increase the sound, I arrange in front of the several reedsa Sleeves or caps b, as shown in dotted lines by Figs. l and 5. Thecaps, which may have any suitable form, are preferably closed at thefront end. In the example shown the caps have a semicircular form, butit is obvious that they mayV be also of an angular, oval, or any othershape. It is also obvious that the caps may consist of any suitablemetal and material either from one or more pieces.

As shown in Figs. l to 4, the caps are fixed upon the reed-plates or theprojecting wood block, respectively, by means of two plates c,representing at the same time the mouthpiece. According to Figs. 5 and 6the caps may be fixed by laying a plate c upon the caps (either fastenedor unfastened) and screwing or riveting the said plate to the reedplatesor the projecting wood block, respectively. 'Ihe construction can alsobe effected Striano. 589,768. (Neiman.)

in such a manner that one cap covers one or 4o more reeds. It may beseen that by these caps covering the reeds and closed at one end whileopen at the other the effect is to highly increase the resonance and toproduce a sound resembling that of a trumpet and differing from that ofthe usual harmonicas. If de sired, the caps could also be opened at bothends, but in this case the sound is not increased in such a degree asabove described.

In view of the harmonicas hitherto known I attain by my construction thefurther advantage that the sound may be regulatedfor example, as in aflute--by closing the caps with the ngers in a suitable manner.

The series of caps may be formed separately, as in Fig. 6, tobe held bythe plate c', or they may be formed integral with a base-plate, as inFig. 4.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is.-

I. In combination in a harmonica,the block, a series of substantiallyarch-shaped caps over the reeds having sound-emission openings andplates for holding the caps in place, said plates forming mouthpiecesfor the instrument, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a harmonica, a block with its reeds and a series ofindependent caps with plates for securing them over the reeds, said capshaving sound-emission openings, said plates forming mouthpieces for theinstrument, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

CHRISTIAN WEISS, JUNIOR.

Witnesses:

KARL Boson, CHRISTIAN BAUER.

